C. Allyn Russell began his 26-year career at Boston University in 1961, focusing on the history of religion in America. In 1982 he received the Metcalf Cup. Prothero, who just won a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanites in their Public Scholars program (and appeared on both the Daily Show and the Colbert Report in their time), has been one of the major contributors to the national discussion about American religion.

Faculty-in-Residence program offers profs, students a unique opportunity

Video by Jason Kimball

The majority of BU faculty interact with students chiefly through classroom lectures and office hours. But a select group of 15 not only teach undergraduates, but live alongside them in residence halls across campus. They are part of Residence Life’s Faculty-in-Residence program (FIR).

The program was launched in 1974 by John Silber (Hon.’95), then BU president, to provide faculty from various University schools the opportunity to get to know students in an informal day-to-day setting.

Today, FIRs, as they are commonly known, are role models, resources, and advocates for students, helping them develop their interests through collaborative, innovative, and fun activities.

On the 27th of February 2017, the Center of Excellence for Philosophy of Religion (CEPR) at the Islamic Research Institute for Culture and Thought (IICT) hosted a meeting with Prof. Steven T. Katz, professor in the department of religion at Boston University, USA.

Hojjat-ul-Islam Dr. Sajedi, first introduced IICT, the Center of Excellence for Philosophy of Religion and described some of the programs and activities of the center. He then pointed to a number of western books and articles in the field of philosophy of religion, theology etc. which have been translated from English into Persian. Dr. Sajedi also described the objectives of holding such meetings. He then introduced the Iranian panel participants and at the end of this opening session, asked Prof. Katz to introduce himself and deliver his speech on “the relationship between mysticism and the very notion of philosophy of religion.” Read more…..

What Do Mormons and Muslims Have in Common?

In casting doubt on whether Islam is a religion, Trump’s team puts a new spin on an old playbook.

By STEPHEN PROTHEROMarch 07, 2017

It should have been a simple question: Last week, Trump counterterrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka was asked by a radio host whether the president believed that Islam was a religion. Instead of coming back with a quick yes – of course it’s a religion – he demurred. “This is not a theological seminary,” he said. “This is the White House, and we’re not going to get into theological debates.”

It wasn’t that he’d been caught off-guard. It was the second time he’d been asked by the same NPR host, Steve Inskeep. The first time, Gorka had evaded the question in a different way: “I think you should ask him that question. I’m not a spokesperson for the president,” he said. Read more….

Onaje X Woodbine has been named to the longlist (https://pen.org/literature/2017-penespn-award-literary-sports-writing) for the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing for a book he wrote based on his PhD Dissertation in the GDRS. Black Gods of the Asphalt: Religion Hip-Hop, and Street Basketball, which was published by Columbia University Press in May 2016 is the only book on the longlist not published by a trade press. Onaje, who is now on the Philosophy & Religious Studies faculty at Phillips Academy Andover, also adapted the book for a stage play, which was produced at Andover in May and at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa in June.

Other books on the longlist include Blood Brothers: The Fatal Friendship Between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X and the New York Times bestseller American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise. The winner of the award, which honors books that are “of a biographical, investigative, historical, or analytical nature and of the strongest literary character,” will be announced in February.